Adjust the inputs. We'll show year-1 cost, the 5-year projection (with realistic price increases), and the break-even hour where home care crosses into more expensive than a facility.

Your situation

Paid home-care hours 4 hrs/day

Just the paid hours. Family/spouse hours go separately.

Hourly rate $30/hr

National average runs $30–$35. Higher in coastal metros.

Family caregiver hours (free) 2 hrs/day

Real cost in time and stress, not in dollars.

Home monthly costs $800

Utilities, food, taxes, maintenance. Higher if mortgage is still active.

Assisted living base rate $5,500/mo

National median ~$5,500. State averages on /states.

AL move-in fee $3,000

One-time community fee. Most facilities charge $2k–$5k.

Care add-ons (per month, on top of base)

+ Meds mgmt ($300)

+ Personal care ($500)

+ Memory care ($800)

+ Two meals upgrade ($400)

AL pricing is à la carte. Most residents need at least one add-on within 18 months.

Side by side

Home — Year 1

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AL — Year 1

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Home (yr 1)$0

AL (yr 1)$0

Home — 5-yr total

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+3% care inflation/yr

AL — 5-yr total

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+5% facility inflation/yr

Break-even today: —. Above that, home costs more than AL on month one.

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What the math doesn't capture

Every line on this page is a number. The real decision isn't. A move into AL ends a chapter — the house, the neighbors, the routine. Staying home preserves all that, but loads the burden onto a spouse or adult child whose own life pauses around it. Both have a cost. Pick the one your family can carry.

Assumptions: 30 days/month for paid care. AL inflation modeled at 5%/yr (Genworth Cost of Care 5-yr CAGR). Home care inflation at 3%/yr. Move-in fee charged once, in year 1. Add-ons applied to AL only. Family caregiver hours don't reduce the dollar total but are surfaced because they are the most under-counted cost in this comparison. Numbers are estimates — your local market and your parent's care needs will move them.